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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1986-07-16, Page 32Canada's Polka: will 1 Walter Ostanek, long known as Canada's Polka King, can now lay claim to the title legitimately since his induction into,the In- ternational Polka Association's Polka Hall of Fame on August 6th, 1983,etthe first t Canadian, and in fact the only pen side the U.S.A., to be so honoured. Success did not' arrive suddenly. In a field where competition is fierce, fans are demanding, and names can be made or forgotten almost overnight, Walter has been a constant and dedicated contender. Bonn in Duperquet, Quebec, p_f Yugosla- vian parents, on April 20th, 1935, Walter was exposed to the sounds of the accordion from the beginning. In a culture where family and music are almost synonomous. the accordion was a tradition, his grand- father and uncles,in Yugoslavia all being masters of the art. That he should have fallen in love with this instrument is no ac- cident then. At the age of nine, shortly after the family had moved to the Niagara Peninsula, Walter became the proud owner of his own first button accordion, which he learned to play without formal in- struction. His natural talent and ability soon became evident and by the time he was twelve he persuaded his father to in- vest in a piano accordion for him,, and started taking formal lessons. At about this same time, in Cleveland, Ohio, Frankie Yankovic was hitting the big time with two million -selling polka hits, and Walter, later to become president of Frankie'- Canadian fan club, and a close personal friend of the star, was hooked. In 1951 Walter formed his first Country and Western Polka Band and for two years King, was leader of his own group. Then, at the grand old age of 18, he joined Abbie An- drews and His Canadian Ranch Boys and got his first exposure to the world of radio, with the group's three shows a week. By the time he was 21 Walter had been playing the accordion for close to 13 years, and the urge to lead his own group was strong, so the Walter Ostanek Band was formed. On 26th of January 1957 the newly formed group played it's first engagement at German Village in Niagara Falls, On- tario. In the years that were to follow, this band would build a reputation as one of the finest, most versatile groups of musicians in the business. In the rneantime there would be long hard hours on the road, away from home, as well as local engagements, and radio and T.V. shows. In 1963 Walter cut his first L.P. album and since that time has recorded more than 14 single 45's, as well as 27 L.P.'s. . In 1973 the Walter Ostanek Band receiv- ed a trophy in the Octoberfest.Parade at Kitchener, Ontario, and for the past seven years has been featured annually at the, Kitchener -Waterloo Oktoberfest, a gruell- ing nine -day musical marathon. In 1974 Walter received a Gold Record from Arc Record Co. presented by America's Polka King, Fi'anlae Yankovic. He also received a plaque for dedicated work in the Polka field from the Polka Variety TV Show in Cleveland, Ohio. The following year, in March 1975, saw him ap- pear as a guest with Franki Yankovic on the Phil Donohue Show, along with Lawrence Welk. On the Johnny Carson Show he shared guest honours with 41 play Saturday Frankie Yankovic, and in 1977 in Honolulu, Hawaii, he was• a guest on the Don Ho Show, at the Polynesian Palace. Between 1975 and 1977\Walter appeared on the Pig & Whistle Show on channel 9, four times in each season. His- other TV credits include appearances on the Tom- my Hunter network show, the Channel 9 Telethon as well as the Montreal Telethon. In March 1979 Walter received 'a Silver Award 2nd prize for a one hour Christmas Special, an event in which 200 independent TV stations in Canada participated. In August 1979 Walter toured Yugoslavia, Italy and Austria with his son Richard and Franki Yankovic. Two years later he was to be found aboard the S.S. Norway, the largest cruise ship in the world, on a weeks appearance. Then. in February 1983, ,along with fifteen All Time Great Polka Band Leaders, he made a one week appearance on the S.S. Vera Cruz. The names of artists he has appeared with in recent years looks like a list of con- tenders in an All Time Great Music Awards Show, and includes names such as r. Ronnie Milsap, the Oakridge Boys, Slim Whitman, Ray Price, Conway Twitty, Mel Tillis, Brenda Lee, Gordie Tapp, Roy Clark, George Jones and many more. Not content with personal appearances, band performers and TV shows, The Walter Ostanek Band is featured regularly on radio too. For ten years Walter had his own weekly radio show on CHOW Radio in - Welland, Ontario. At present he has three separate slots on radio in St. Catharines. Polka Time can be heard between 5:15 and 7:00 p.m. every Saturday on CKTB 610 Page 11 AM, while Fiddle Country is aired over CJ QR 97.7_ FM between 7:00 and, 8:00 p.nto also on Saturdays. On Sundays you can hear Walter's Down Home Country Show over CJQR 97.7 FM between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., as well Wednesday 11;05 till 12 mid- night. Going into his 10th season on Chan- nel 13 CKCO TV is Walter's show Polka Time on Sundays from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. What does this man do in his spare time you might be tempted to wonder. Walter makes his home in St. Catharines, Ontario, With his wife Irene of 27 years, his daughter Chery Susan and son Richard. Their mail box is shaped like ... you guess- ed it ... an accordion. When he is not play- ing an engagement, on the road or in a recording studio, Walter can be found at the Walter Ostanek Music Centre, 41 Geneva Street, in downtown St. Catharines, surrounded by musical in- struments, live musicians, aspiring musical students, and a collection of photographs that pay tribute to a musical career that has earned him the recognition of his peers for over 25 years of dedication to music, and ih particular the promotion of Polka Music. ' Walter works hard at his craft and ex- pects his musicians to do likewise, and when they are dressed and on stage the result is a happy blend of enthusiasm and respect for each other, combined with great talent and an obvious love of good music. A winning combination that has earned the Walter Ostanek Band a devoted following! 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